Method of and system for pumping



w. R. GREENLEE."

METHOD 0F AND SYSTEM FOR FUMPING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28.1915.l

W. R. GEENLEE.

METHOD 0F A'ND SYSTEM FOR PUMPING.

APPLICATION HLEQ ocr.28.1915.

Patent-d vJuly 22, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHLET 2.

W. R. 'GREENLEIL METHOD- oF ANUSYSTEM FOR PUMPIN'G.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2811915.

mmmamy 22, 1919,.

.7 ,SCH/(Z5 sca i@ I 1 31 l i. l 57 FI.

onu noaa y w.11.'1111E1\111iE.v l METHOD 11F AND SYSTEM F011 PUMRING'.-M PLICATION FILED OCT. 28,19l5.

P11-@111111 July 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WARREN n. GREENLEE, or PAsADENA, cALrroItN'rn METHOD F AND SYSTEM FORPUMPING.

'Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Application filed October 28, 1915. Serial No. 58,337.

To all whom t may concern.' f.

Be it known that I, WARREN R. GREENLEE,

i a citizen of the United States, residing in Pasadena, in the county ofLos Angeles and State of'California, have4 invented a new and usefulMethod of and System for Pumping, of which the following is aspecification.

In general, an object of this invention is to facilitate obtainingliquids fromthe earth. Another object is to cheapen the production ofliquids such as oil and its associated products.

Anothery object is to effect the foregoing by making provision forcontrol of the' fluids to be tapped by the well While drilling, pumpingand cleaning'y the well. This provision is made for Wells vpumped bypiston pumps, flowing wells and also Wells pumped 'by fluid from anexternal source, alone or in combination.

Another object is to make provision for conserving all of the productsgiven off through the well. v i' Another Objectis t0 make provision forutilizing to the maximum without wastage the hydrostatic and gas`pressures in the producing stratas.

Another object isto make provision for establishing and maintaining orrenewing the ratio of gas and liquid volumes requisite l to produce aflow.

Another object is to prevent plugging of the Well by sand' and mud.

Another object is to distil as much of the Valuable condensates, suchfor instance as gasolene, from the gas as possible and then to vutilizethe resulting comparatively dry gasto flow oil. from those wells thatmay be deficient in the volume of gas requisite to flow the oil fromsaid wells, or aid the piston1 1in its pumping action in a piston-pumpedwe It is understood that the term pump and pumping define and imply anydevice and operation whereby liquid is causedl-of` l ging the well andstopping the production issue rom the earth. *l l 2.

In someof the most prolific oil produingfields of the world, experienceyhas' shown that big producing Wells cannot be pumped vsuccessfullybecausev sand or mud invariably' enters rand chokes the valves, pump andtubing and even plugs upthewell itself. This is especially the conditionfrequently found in the oil fields of California, and the fact that the-wells in lthe California oil fields v are usually of such-great depthaswell as being drilled into loose sand and shale makes the pumping ofthem the more diflicult.

lVithout the use of thisl invention, when the oil together with a largevolume of gas is contained inv producingstrata such as loose sand andshale. the head orl rock pres- Sllre of the gas and oil for an intervalvof time drives said gas and oil through the sand and shale formationand into the well and the pressure is often so great that largequantities of the sand and shale, and in some instances mud, are carriedinto the Well by the velocity of the oil and gas.' The resistance thatthe well offers to escape of the oil and gas therefrom is less-than theresistance which the oil and gas encounter in the rock or groundformation, hence after a great flow and heave of oil andl gas into theWell and therefrom and, after the 'head of oil is thus blown out of thewell, the pressure in the well subsides for another interval of timeuntil enough oil and 'gas is forced `through the sand and shale to causeanother flow. But before another flow can occur, the column of said andmud, remaining in the well after the flow has ceased, settles down intothe bottom of the well., packing the pump tubing and forming bridges andeven choking the well solidly near the bottom. When there is water mixedwiththe oil, said water cuts the mixture and lets the sand settlequicker and the clean sand packs y,

with extreme firmness.

After the interval of time of non-fiow another heave or rush of 011,gas, sand and shale or mud occurs to fill the space left by theoil, sandand gas that has escaped into the Well. The renewed 'pressure will doone of two things, either blow out the sand plugs and thereby enable the011 and gas to is quite as often the Case, said pressure compresses theplug of sand, shale and mud into a still tighter plug, therebyefl'ectually pluggush out of the Well as before, or else, as

of voil therefrom luntil the wellhas been A cleaned by the use of toolsor until the pipes z resorted to in many instances, but screeningreduces the out-put of the well because holding back the sand retardsthe oil n account of the viscosity of the oil. It follows from this thatto get a good flow of oil it is absolutely necessary to allow the sandandA shale to venter the well with theoil and gas.

Another method whereby to get rid of vthe sand has heretofore been triedby use ,viuc'tuations in t 6oA of the air lift but this method hascertain disadvantages and cannot be applied to a well that will not flowbecause of lack of proper submergence and furthermore the power expendedin the air lift makes the air lift method too expensive unless it ispossible to produce a continuous flow, which is very seldom the case.Wells are often able to furnish more than enough gas under high pressureto flow all the oil that said wells can produce, and therefore to usethe air liftwith such wells ist obviously a waste of power.

Hydraulic pumping has also been tried but since in hydraulic pumping thepressure of the hydraulic fluid is almost invariably greater than therock pressure, the greater pressure causes sand bridges tobe produced 1nthe casing and thus partially or entirely plug up the well. Hydraulicpumping is also very apt to pack the mud and sand vinto the producingsands around the bottom of the well so tightly as to practically sealsa1d sands and stop the flow of oil therefrom, the sealing being soeffectual sometimes that it is impossible to dislodge it so as'to allowthe oil to again flow.

Only in comparatively few instances is there any relief from a badlysanded well, for cleaning it with tools and pulling the pump tubing onlyenable the well to flow temporarily and often the casing collapses or 1sbroken off by the caving roof of the cavity created around the well,thus entailing additional expense in the redrilling.

thereof.

From the foregoing it is clear that at best most big producing wellsentail tremendous expenses while they are big producers, such expensesoften preventing the well from being protable and involving the owner ofthe well in ,pecuniary losses.

It is clear that the diiiculties outlined above are all due 'entirely tothe uncontrolled -pressures and great fluctuations in the velocity ofthe oil and as flowing through the sands in the immediate vicinity ofthe well and in the well itself, and `also to the fact that rior to thisinvention the lie velocity have been entirely uncontrolled. To overcome,thesel difficulties and others which may appear hereinafter I makeprovision whereby the velocity of the oil andgas will remain steady,constant and as uniform as possible and whereby the pressure in the welland the head or rock pressure will nearly balance one another. Inasmuchas the relative pressures control the velocities I am enabled byaltering the pressures to obtain higher or lower velocities as desired.'

This invention not only makes provision for controlling the pressuresand velocities lin a well but, also, makes provision for obtainingcontinuous flow of oil and gas in many instances, when such would not bethe case w1thout such provlslon, so as to mm1- mize the liability ofchoking and pluggingof the well and its equipment by "sand, shale,mudand the like, and also minimize liability of packing ,the producingearth strata around the well.

It is noted that great oil gushe'rs generally become extinct in a shorttime, and that this is due to the plugging and packing of the sand asoutlined above is verified bythe fact that good producing wells havebeen sunk close to extinct gushers.

Whether or not the wells are gushers or' are -ordinary flowing orpiston-pumped wells, said ordinary flowing and piston pumped wellsintermittently have the same great pressures as the gushers and aretherefore liable to be plugged up by sand and shale as above describedunless provision is made for their control.

AA further harmful effect of the alternate higher and lower pressuresofthe oil and gas flowing into the well and consequent rise and fall ofthe level of liquid in the well is that erosion of the well takesplace,-

ence of the sand to cut the casing or even blow it off near the sand byblasting, and hence the greater portion of the string of casin isusually lost. A still further harmful e ect of a blow-out is that whenthe great pressure due to the head of oil in the tubing is removed muchof the gas in solution in the o il becomes free to expand and rise andescape therefrom, so that the oil subsequently lling the vwell isdeficient in gas or dead 'and can not flow for a comparatively longperiod of time.

To effect the foregoing objects and to overcome the difficultiesoutlined above there is provided either a pressure regulated valve orvalves, such for instance as a diaphragm valve, at the top of the well;or pressure regulated valves, at various levels 1n the well, or both, toestablish, maintain or discharge pipe and the head of oil so as renewthe ratio of liquid volumes and pressures or the ratio of gas and liquidvolumes and pressures requisite to produce flow.

One of the Valves at the top of the well opens and closes atpredetermined. higher and lower constant dillerences ofpressures of gasand oil in the well to open the oil permit the oil to flow and to closethe oil d1scharge pipe until the pressure reaches the predeterminedhigher` constant differences of pressure when the valve again opens topermit the oil to flow.

VAnother of the valves at the top of the well opens and4 closes atpredetermined higher and lower constant differences of pressures of gasin the well to admit fluid to and exclude fluid from entering the well'from an outside source such as a gas well,

compressor or pump.

These valves just mentioned may be combined or used separately ifdesired.

The valve or valves at the top of the well may .be suitable andsatisfactory for a certain small class of wells and, though the well isunder control and can not blow out to cause the difficultieshere'inbefore set forth as resulting from the blow-out, yet for anotherlarger class of wells it is more desirable to place the valves atdifl`erent-levels in the well, and by so doing certain advantageousresults are obtained that cannot -be obtained by the valve or Vvalves atthe top of the well without complicating and increasing the cost df theequipment.

When the valves are placed at various levels 1n the wells, theyautomaticall con-v trol entries at all of said levels, the ow of liquidtaking place at one level or another according to the variations in thevolumes and pressures of gas flowing to the well in some instances withthe oil and in part according to Variations in the pressure of liquid tobe pumped at the level of each entry, or according to the variations inthe volumes and pressures of fluid, either gas, or liquid, flowing orforced into the well in other instances at the top from an external.Closing of the'valves and thus source of supply.

At lower pressures the higher valvemay have flowing submergence and insuch event opens to admit the operating fluid to flow the well; and athigher pressures, when there is nonflowing submergence of said highervalve, the higher valve closes to exclude the operating fluid and thelowe-r valve may then have flowin submergence and in such event opens toflow the well; and at still igher pressures, when there is nonflowingsubmergence of the lower valve, the ,lower valve closes to exclude theoperating fluid.

the operating fluid from the pump tubing when there is nonflowing submerence of the valves insures that said operatingfluid y excluding will beheld in storage in the well to aid subsequent flowing of the well andprevents by its back pressure the harmful velocities. and heaveshereinbefore referred to. Thus each valve shuts to exclude the operatingfluid lwhen there is nonflowing submergence of said valve -and if saidfluid is a gas prevents blowing ofl and wastage of said 'gas anddissipation of its energy. One advantage of what I term plural ormultip-leet tries is that, when the gas pressure is lh# in the well andthe oil level is comparatively high, the well will flow with lessersu'bmergenc-e than otherwise required, thus enabling the well to beflowed by low pressure fluids. This is of course a great economy and isalso of advantage in starting awell to flow.

lFrom this it is seen that low ypressure gases and small volumes of gascan be utilized to effect flowing, and that, no matter how low apressure of gas is furnished by a well, said gas is effective indisplacing an equivalent volume of oil and thereby reduc-l ing the loadon the. piston in a piston-l pumped well in proportion to the amount ofthe displacement. y

Other advantagesof the plural or multiple entries are that in apiston-pumped well no free gas can enter the pump and thereby reduce theoutput of the well and the gas cannot enter the pump cylinder and keepthe valves closed so that the pum piston will merely work against a gasbo y.

Another advantage of the plural entries is that with deep submergenceand small volumes of high pressure gas, when the i smaller volumes ofhigh pressure gas Change to larger volumes of low pressure gas, said lowpressure gas becomes available to flow the well.

Heretofore to obtain at the start the greatest pumping efiiciency it hasoften required trials a-t different submergences, and it follows from.this that to maintain the greatest efiiciency it would be necessarywithmany prior devices to raise and lower the pump to meet all variations inthe level of the liquid in the well. By the plural entry constructionthe pump is self adjusting to the different levels and pressures andtherefore the pump is always working under maximum efficiency.

By maintaining the gas pressure it is clear that all of the gasdissolved in the oil is held in solution, so as to insure that the wellwill always contain lively oil capable of hastening the flow.

Heretofore some oil wells were each equipped with a string of tubing anda rubber packing near the lower end of the tubing so as to cause all ofthe gas to flow into the string of tubing and thus displace and flow theoil. Thus heretofore there was no control or utilization of the gas toproduce a gas was allowed to blow olf until the oil accumulated forfurther flow. The intermediate noniiowing periods entailed the loss of atremendous amount of ener the risk of producing sanding o the well andtubing 'and shortening the life of the well. After the rock pressure wasallowed to waste away expensive pumping was often resolrted to to obtainthe oil left dead in the wel In carryin out this invention, in order toobtain ful control of the pressures and velocities, I first insureperfect sealin of the well. Wells have not heretofore een perfectlysealed and thisis substantiated by the fact that water wells severalmiles away from an oil field have beencontaminated by seepage of oil andthrough the nonpro ucing strata above the oil sand to the water wells.The casing above the producing strata is surrounded by a sealing ring ofcement or the like.

-I provide either a ,gas-tight casing head at the top of the wellor apacker set atan intermediate point the weli so as to form apressurefluid reservoir between the casing and tubing below the casinghead or packerl as the case may be. TheV gas or other operating iiuid istaken from the reservoir as needed to displace the oil in the tubing andcause the same to iiow out of the well, and if gasis the operating iuidbeing used any gas in excess of what is'necessary to cause the oil toiiow at a velocity that can. be readily takencare of is discharged nandutilized in another Well or'wells having insufficient volumes of gas todis- Apwll'ace the oil and cause the same to flow. v 'us the reservoirforms a gas trap or receiver adapted to contain an elastic' cushion Aofgas that insures against violent changes of pressure at all times, thuspreventing excessive sand and mud heaves and consequent plugging andclogging of the well, its equipment and the producing sands.

A comparatively slight displacement of oil lbetween the casing andtubing by the pressure of gases in the reservoir causes much greaterdisplacement` of the oil in the tubing so that it will rise therein, thelevel rising until the head of the column-of oil in the tubing balancestheA pressure of the gas in the reservoir or gas trap. The head of theoil and the gaso pressure continue to balance one another untilsuflicient oil accumulates in the well to cause flowing subbesides (gasfrom the oil wells mergence, whereupon the oil will flow in a 'mannerwell understood.

purpose, the blow out of gas occurring just efore and after the head ofoil has been blown outof the well. Such total release of the pressure inthe well and on the sand near it allows an irl-rush of gas which is lostand a flowof oil with such violent velocity as to result in thedisastrous sanding and other objectionable results herein'beforeoutlined. Even when there are no shifting sands to plug the well, thewell without this invention remains dead until suili'cient gas collectsto cause flowing pressure.

The distance above thevsand at which the gas entry or entries arelocated dermines the depth of submergence and also 'determines the headofthe iuid or equivalent gas pressure carried by the well to be utilizedto balance the rock pressure. To prevent gas blow-outsthe length of thetail -pipe may be made directly proportional to the pressure desiredto-b'e carried by the reservoir or said tail pipe may be provided with apuppet or check valve.

The regulator or entry valves are so constructed as to automaticallycontrol the volume of gas -or other operatin iuid passing through saidvalves and furt ermore are so constructed as to regulate said' volumeand maintain the ratio of the4 operatin iuid and oil volumes, the ratioof sai volumes ,remaining the same but the rate of flow changingaccordin as the total volurne of the operating fluid 'and oil is greateror less. y

If with the use of this invention the flow of oil ceases because ofinsuliciency of either oil or gas or-both, there is always a possibilityof sand in the oil in the tubing settling down and bridging across andplugging the tubing. If this occurs, another great advantage of thevalved multiple eny tries becomes evident, for by releasing some of thegas at the top of the well and thus reducing its pressure Van entr abovethe sand plug will, open and -admit oil to the tubing and another entryor entries higher up will open to admit gas which fwill cause the oilabove the plug to flow. The weight of the oil column above the sand plugwill thus tend to be gradually diminished and when it is so beneath it.If there 1s owing submergence iminished said sand plug will be blown outy the pressure of oil and gas the valves at all of the ent-ries,- thenAsome of the gas lmay be released at the top of the lin the tubing byits head to open the l well from the reservoir to lower the pressuresuiiciently to allow the head of foil er valveso that the oil will ow. v

It is understood that, when Huid under pressure is supplied to the wellfrom an external source to eiiect the pumping or ow of the liquid tappedby the well, said fluid` may be gas takenl directly from another wellunder pressure or may be lgas froma compressorY and this gas may becompressed air, or said fluid may be a liquid taken from the well itselfor taken from an outside source.

Heretofore the gas in the well rising with .the oil and dischargingtherewith resulted in waste'o power for, if theA oil was not dischargedagainst pressure greater than atmospheric, the gas expanded and so lostits expansive energy; and, if the oil was discharged against saidgreater pressure, as is often'the case, then the pump had not only towork against the head 4of oil in the tubing plus the atmosphericpressure but against'saidhead plus the greater pressure. To avoid suchwaste of power I provide means inthe form of a gas trap to separate thegas from the loil and remove its pressure from the oil,.the'rebymaintaining the gas under whatever pressure it has at the pointofdischarge of the oil without causing back pressure o the-tubing.

This is eiiected by placing the trap at any' appropriate point in theywell above the submergence level to deliver the gas at a high pressureto the surface and reduce the lift or regular pressure in the well,

the gas against -the oil in practice. i

tubing would expand and produce a great degree of friction'in the tubingand consequent back pressure load against the pumping force.

The gas trap, if desired, may be positioned below the submergence level'to deliver lthe gas at higher pressures, but of course the lift orregular pressure would thereby be increased.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

Figure 1 is an elevation lpartly in section of an apparatus whereby vthenovell method is carried out,l portions of the well equipments beingbroken away to contract the View. The enginev and itsv'drivingconnections for operating the l sucker linefofwell `d are brokenv awayto contractl` the view. For purposes of illustration the well;y .equip-Vments are shown ,of .largerv size., relativeato tthe size of=thedistilling, coolingfand.-cor'n-` pressing plants than they would be kinFig. 2 is a sectional `detailon cated by :v2-a2, Figs. S-'and 6 of oneof the entry members and its valve, fragments of and operatingthe pumptubing, casin fluid conductor tube also being shown.

Fig. Y 3 is an enlarged fragmental plan section on line indicatedy by@ca -m3, Fi 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged-sectional detail of the lower endof the entry valve. V

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on line indiv i cated by {v5-m5, Fig.6.4

Fig-6 is a plan section on line indicated -f sectional detail of coolerupper part of Fig. 1.

Fig. 13' is a longitudinal sectional elevation of thev tubular separatorin Figs. 1

and12. i, .v

Fig. 14 is' an enlarged sectional elevation on line indicated by :LAL-,Fig. 13.

' There are provided wells a, b, 0, d, e, f, g

and h tapping the oil-producing earth strata atV Fi l. Fig. 12 is anenlarged elevation of the indicated at lc. Each well is provided withlacasing or conductor tube 1 having oil and gas inlet erforations4 2 andprovided outside ofsaldcasing above' said perforations and above theproducing trata with a sealing ring 3 of cement, or the like, to preventoil and gas from the producing strata lc seeping through thenon-producing strata fm, above said producing strata and thus escaping,and to prevent water entering `the producing sands.

Each casing 1 is. provided at its top with a gas tight casing head andcover 4, 5 ofA suitable construction, the casing head and, cover shownin the drawings not being described` in detail and claimed herein butbeing the subject of my copending application for patent for wellequipment filed January 29, 1916, Serial No. 75,113.

Interiorly each casing 1 with the exceptionvof` the one in well yf isprovided with pump tubingl 6 andl each tubing is provlded at intervalstherealongwith operating-fluid entry members shown more clearly Figs. 2to 6 inclusiveand constructed as follows: Each-entry member comprisesabarrel 7- into which 4is screw-threaded the. adjacent endseof sectionsofthe pump tubing 6 so as tofform -rai continuous tubing, and lalsocomprises anientryyalve `jacket 8, `an inlet passage 9 =a`nd.1a; `checkvalve chamber 10; `said valvefjgacket andfinletpassa' e communicatingwithlonfe another-throng a port 11 and said-.ivalveiacketcommuncatingwith the` hrough upwardly and inwardly im barrel 'v ing with one anotherthrough a port 13.

The ports or entries 12 at thel diHerent e levels constitute what I termplural or mul-y tiple entries. A The Alower and upper ends of the valvejacketY are closed by plugs 14 and the upper ends of the check valvechambers 10 are closed by plugs 15.

Each jacket 8 excepting` the lowermost one in the well e is providedinternally with 'a threaded shoulder 16 engaging a threaded bushing 17on the upper end of a longitudinal ribbed ball chamber 18 having in itsinterior a valve ball 19 adapted to close on to a lower seat 20 when theball is in its l lower position, as -in Fig. 2 and adapted to .close onto an upper seat 21 when said ball is in its upper position as in Fig.4. The

lupper seat 21 may be provided with means such as notches 22 to allow aslight flow of operating fluid through the valve and into the pumptubing so that, i'f the well is not discharging liquid, any sand thatmay be in' the liquid will be agitated and maintained in `suspension inthe liquid by .the slight flow of'said fluid to prevent the` formationof bridges and plugs tending tol choke the pump tubing. -f

To close on to the upper seat 21 from its lower position, each ball 19must first strike the lower cupped end 23 of a stem 24 and move saidstem against the pressure of a coiled expansion spring 25 which isseated at one end against tension adjusting'nuts 26 adjustable along thestem 24, said spring being seated at its opposite end against the lupperend of a cage 27 that surrounds said spring. The stem 24 isscrew-threaded at itslupper end to-adjustably engage an abut'- mentformed by a nut or nuts 28, one of which engages the upper end of thecage to maintain-the cup 23 at a predetermined adjustable distance fromthe valve seat 20. The nuts 2-8 may be engaged by aV tool (not shown) toturn the stem 24 and thereby adjust the nuts 26 relative to said stem toincrease or diminish the tension of the spring 25, said nuts 26 beingheld against turning by pins 29 projecting from the nuts betweenadjacent ribs of the cage. The cage 27 is screw-threaded at its lowerend into the bushing 17. d

Each ball chamber 18 isinwardly tapered from its middle ortion towardits ends so that the inside d1ameter of said-chamber is graduallyreduced from its middle portion to the valve seats 20, 21.

Each of the check valve chambers 1 0 is provided at its lower end belowthe level of the port 13 with a ballcheck valve 30,

' back pressure of the operating fluid against the fluid in theproducing sands.

In the wells a, d, e, and g the inlet passages 9 are connected to oneanother and the topmost gas passage in each of said'wells is connectedwith the Casing head lid 5 by sections of an operating fluid conductortube 31-so as to form a straight continuous fluid conductor. Because ofthe `provision of the check valves 30, it' is clear that any desiredpumping pressure of the operating fluid in the wells a, d, e and g maybe employed without liability of forcing the gas and liquid being umpedback into the producing strata. he advantage of this is that the wellpiping may readily be cleaned of sediment, if it becomes clogged upunder Athe ordinary pumping pressures, by using and g by suitablepackers 32 and 32. In the Y well c the packer 32 has the same effect asthe check valves 30 in the wells a, el, e and g to keep the pressure ofthe o erating fluid off of the producin strata. he packer 32 is notdescribed in etail and claimedherein but is Ithe subject matter of mycopendmg a plication for patent for well equipment filed January 29,1916, Serial No. 75,113.

- 'From the foregoing it is seen that. the valve balls 19 are normallyclosed on--the seats 20'when there is not enough pressure of theoperating fluid to overcome the pressure of the column of liquid in thepump tubing above the respective valves, thus pre'- venting liquid andsand from backing down through the ports 12 and thence through thevalves which thus function as check valves; and that each. valvev willopen under pressures of the operating fluid suflicient to d1splace theliquid above said valve; and that said operating fluid will dischargeupward and inward through the ports 12 into the tubing 6 to'flow theliquid in the tubing against the head-of liquid in the purnp tubing, aIcomparatively-small volume of said operating fluid will flow through thevalve,

liquid in the tubing; that, if the pressure of .the operating fluid ishigher and thereby raises the ball to the intermediate portlon of theball chamber, where said chamber-is of greatest diameter, against thehead of liquid in the tubing, a much greater volume of the operatingfluid will 'iow through the valve toefect a greater flow of liquid; andfurthermore that if the pressure ofthe operating lfluid is stillhigherin fact so high as to endanger flowingv out the head of liquid inthe tubing, said still Ahi her pressure will act to raise the ball 19agalnst the expansive force of the spring 25 into the reduced upperportion of the ball chamber 18 to diminish the iiowfof the operatingiiuid or, if said still higher pressure vis greater than can safely beused without blowing out the head of. liquid in the-tubing, -then thestill higher pressure will act to shut the ball on" to the' seat 21toexclude all but a relatively minute volume of operating Huid from thepump tubing at the entry thus shut 0H. It is understood .that owing tothe `load of liquid on the valve being greater the lower the valve is,the valves may open and close successively 'so as to maintain the yratioof operating iiuid and liquid volumes, though the rate of flow maychange according as the total volume of the` operating fluid and liquid'being pumped is greater or less.

From the foregoing it will now be clear that'the pressures indetermining whether or not the entry valves are to be in open or closedposition are variable, and that the constant difference whichvdetermines the valve operating pressure is redetermined lby the levelsat which the in et valves are placed and the strength of the springs 25.

The well a is provided with a gas trap shown more clearlyin Figs. 7, 8and 9 and constructed as follows: One section 33 of the A pump tubing 6is screw-threaded into the inlet 34 of one head 35 of a cylindricalconhead 37 through which another section 38 of the pump tubing passesinto the interior of the container, said lsection 38 having its lowerend-spaced apart from the head 35.

' The lower end of the tubing section 38 is connected by a collar 39 toavalve chamber 40 containing a check valve ball 41 designed to close onto a seat 42 in the lower portion of the valve chamber. The valvechamber 40 is spaced vapart from Vthe lower head 35 and a nozzle 43 'isscrew-threaded into the inlet 34, said nozzle being provided with aportion 44 extending upward along one side of the valve chamber 40 abovethe level of the valve inlet 45 so as to' form a trap. The

liquid is enabled to pass from said trap through the pump tubing section38 and the trapped gas passes from the container 36" through a gas pipe46 which communicates with the interior of the container through thehead 37 and which is provided. with a fluid-pressure re lator or valve47.

By the use o the device justv described gas underpressure after it hasperformed thel work of lifting fiuid to the upper portion of the well istrapped and the energy due to the pressure is thus conserved.

It is also noted that by the use of thisgas trap at the upper portion ofthe well, nort only is the discharge pressure of the gas maintained butthere will be no back vpressure of the gas against the. liquid beingstorage tanks 58,59, 60, final storage tank 61, sump 62, a tubularseparator 63 for separating .the Water and sand from the oil,dephlegmators 64, 65 for separating the oil and gas from one another,dirt trap 66,

ammonia gas compressor 67, twoustage gas compressors 68, 69, 70, 7 1,71', ammonia tank 72, freezing vat 73, drip tanks 74, 75,

7 5', 76, 77, coolers 78, 79, 80,Y 80 ,md a cooling tower 81.

The oil line 4,9 connects to the gas trap' 50', thence connects to theseparator 63.

'Ilhe storage tanks 58, 59, gas trap 50, cond'ensers 57, 57 57 and thecasing .head4 of the well L connect to a gas line 82, and

the separator 63 `connectsfto .the storage tank 58, 59, and said storagetanks connect to one another.

' The gas-line 82 passes through cooler 79, thence passes throughcooler80, thence connects to' compressor 68, thence passes throughcooling tower 81, thence connects to compressor 70, thence passesthrough the cooling tower 81, thence connects to drip ico tank 75,thence passes through the cooling' l tower 8l, thence connects to thedrip tank 75' thence connects to condenser plant 57', thence connects tothe second stage of compressorl 70, -thence passes through cooling'--tower 81, thence connects to drip tank 76,

thence passes through cooling tower 81, thence connects to compressor71, thence passes through cooling tower 81, thence passes throughcoolers 80', thence passes through dri tank 77 thence connects to the Ycompressor 1- to operate said compressor,

thence passes through the coolers 80 to cool them, thence connects tothe compressor 71,',

- through fthe coole and said gas line connects from the drip tank 77 toa Huid-pressure regulator or. valve 83, thence connects to thesecondstage of the compressor 71 which is connected to4 ahigh pressure gasline 82 that passes through the cooling tower 81, thence passes r 8,thence passes through the freezing vat 73, thence connects to the driptank 74,thence connects to thecasing heads 4 of the wells a, b, c d, f,g, and to thei conductor tubes 31 of t e wells a, d, e an g. y

The casing heads 4 of the wells e, f and the dephlegmator 65 connect toa gas line 84 to'supply gas thereto. The gas line 84 connects to the gasline 82 between the dephlegmator 65 and cooler 79 and conneots to thegas line 82 between the com- {presso'r 71 and the cooling tower 81 andalso connects to the compressor 69 andto the as line 82.

T e oil line 49 passes-from the separator 63 and connects to the stills51, 52, 53,54 in series, thence connects to the header 85 of the tubularseparator63, and connects from the header 86 of said tubular separatort0 the storage tank 60, thence connects to a pump 87, thence connectslto the storage .tank-61.

, The 'trap 88 of the separator 63 connects to the sump62 which connectsto a pump (853, hat in turn connects to storage tanks still 51 connectswith the lpipe 90 assing through the still 55 to t e condenser 57 andthestill 52 connects by pipe .Y

91 with theedephlegmator 64 which con- '.nects with pipe 92 passingthrough the "vapor still 56 to the condenser 57'. and the l vapor still53 connects by a pipe 93 to the plpe 92; and the still 54 connects by apipe 94 to pipe 93.

The pipe 90 is connected to the pipe 92 by a pipe 95. The pipe 94connects to the .headers 96 of the tubular stills 51, 52, 53, 54, .andto the engine exhausts of the compressors 70, 7-1, `and to the header 85of the separator 63, and to the engine exhaust of the pu mp 89. Thecondenser 57 is connected by a pipe 97 to the pipe 46.

Water from the sump '62 is sucked through a pipe 99 by the pump 89', and

forced there y through a pipe 100 tothe se arator 63, thence ,through apipe 101 to t e trap 88, thence through a pipe 103 to a pump v104,thence through a pipe 105 vto the sump 62.

-6 of the wells d and .g are The tubi pistons 106, 107 operated byprovided wi sucker lines vv108, 109 respectively, said sucker line 109"being operatlvely connected` to a pump `110 whlch is connected b itsdischarge ipe 111 to the conductor' tu 31 of the we e and to'lthe casinghead 4 -of the wellg and dwhich is connected by intake 'y pipe 112 to arsuitable source of liquid supkvalves 122 between the separator 63 andstill 51, stills 51 and 52, 52- and 53, 53 and 54 respectively. The gasdischarge pipe 46 is provided with a check valve 123 and the gas line 82adjacent the well h is provided with a. check valve 124. The as line `84is provided between wells e an f with a check valve 125, and between thewell f and the compressor 69 and gas' line 82 with a check valve 126.The pipe 111 is provided between the pump 110 and wells e', g with checkvalves 127, 128 respectively.

The discharge pipe 48 and the gas line 82 adjacent t e lwell e areprovided with fluid-pressure regulators or valve 129, 130 respectivelyconnected by ressure pipe 131 to the gas line 82 and sai gas line 1sprovided with a by-pass'pipe 132 passing around the regulator 130. l,

The gas line 84 is wells e, -f on one side and the gas line 82 andcompressor a balanced fluid-pressure regulator-,or valve 133, saidregulator being connected by pressure pipes 1134, 135 -with the gas line84 on the wel side and compressor side respectively.

provided between the,l

69 -on the other side .with

.The gas line 82 is provided between the y Huid direct from the wellcasing. In the' well, c the distinguishing peculiaritiesare the inletmembers at different levels receiving the operating Huid direct fromthewell casing, and the casing intoupper and lower chambers. In the well dthe distinguishing characteristics are an inlet member connected to anoperating-duid conduit and a piston for pum ing, or'aiding in pumping,the oil'. n t e well e the distinguishingv peculiarities are In the wellb the? distine` packer to separate the well ing mechanism and merelyfurnishes gasto the system. In thewell g the distinguishingpeculiarities are the inlet members interconnected by the conduit, thepiston for pumping or aiding in pumping the well, y'and the pump forforcing liquid into the conduit to cause the circulation of liquidthrough the conduit to prevent clogging of the same with sediment. Thewell it is just an ordinary oil well provided with pump tubing and thegas-tight casing head 5. The pump tubing in the well h may have a singleinlet as is usual in prior constructions.

` .In practice if the wells a, b, c, d, e, g have sufficient volumes ofgas and liquid to produce naturalow, the gas will flow through the checkvalves of the lowermost entry members into the chambers 10, thencethrough the ports 13 to operate the valve balls 19 as hereinbeforedescribed and also through thelports 11 and passages 9 into theconductor tulbes 31 in the wells a, d, e and g and into the conductortubes; 1 in the well b, and thence to the, other entry meni'bers to flowthe liquid in the tubing at the levels where proper submer ence andpressures are. If the wells lack su cient volume of gas to producenatural flow, gas from the pipeline 4 82 will enter the conductor tubes31 of the wells ai, d, e, g and tubes 1 of the wells b, c to flow theliquid in the tubing at the levels where prop er submergence andpressures are.v If there 1s more than sufficient gas in anyJ of thewells a, b, d, e g to produce natural flow or there is insu cient liquidfor suibmergence, then the excess gas flows from .said well or wellsinto the gas line 82vand the gas from the gas well f flows into the gasline 84 and thence into the gas line 82 to supply the wells that may bedeficient in gas with gas for umping.

The oil flows rom the pumpctlubings 6 into the disch-arge pipes 48,thence to the oil line 49, thence to the gas trap 50, separator 63 andrefining lant, and gas from these several sources oi) supply flowsthrough the gas line 82' and is cooled, compressed and further cooled-to remove condensates therefrom and to increase the pressure of the gasto that require-d to pump any wells deficient in gas pressure and isthenvdischarged into the gas line 82. Y

The valve jacket 8 of the lowermost entry member in the well e isdevoidfof the valve parts described as being in the other valve Jacketsand is provided at its lower end with a check valve 137 to prevent backpressure of the operating fluid onthe fluid in the proi ducing strata.

The gas line 82 may be provided at @the insure against the occurrence ofexplosions in the higher stages of compression.

If it is not desired to use the gas to operate the compressor 71 andcool the cooler- 80', then said gases may be cooled by running themthrough a by-pass 140 of the line Sil-and through the freezing vat 73.

If the pressure of gas in the well e becomes insufficient, because oflack of requisite submergenoe, to flow the liquid inthe tubing 6, thenthe regulators 129,130 close to Shut ol" the oil and to shut off theoperating gas supply bythe gas line 82 so as to conserve said operatinggas and pressure fiuid in the producing strata.

I-f the pressure of gas in the-well e becomes so great as would causeablow-out of the column of liquid in lthe tubing, then the` regulator 133opens and allows the gas under pressure to flow into the gas line 84,thence into the gas line 82 and thence to the compressor plant to haveits pressure increased, or if the pressure of said gas is greater thanthat in the gas line 82' then said pressure opens the check valve 138 toallow said gasto enter the gas line 82 through the bypass 132.

he regulators will be so adjusted that the surplus gas will be held inthe wells until said gas reaches as great a pressure as desired in thegas well f and possible in the well e without preventing the desiredyield of oil from the producing strata of saidwell. From this it isclear that, if'said surplus gas is of sufficiently high pressure, saidgas will be turned into the gas line 82 without 1n the compressingplant.

By maintaining the surplus gas under relatively great pressures, it isnoted that saidl gas will be relatively lean in condensates andtherefore need not be through the condensing pl-ant.

Heretofore it was necessary to run all of the gas at relatively lowpressure throughthe compressing and condensing plants. 1n order nothtolose any ofthe condensates, but by this invention only a relativelysmall volume of relatively low pressure gas extremely richin condensatesis run through the compressing and condensing plants.

In event of the gas in the gas line -82 rising to a predeterminedpressure desirable passed regulator 83 closes to shutoii saidgas fromthe higher stage of the compressor 71.

The 'gas line 82 also connects to the motor end of the compressors 6 8,69,4I thence con' nects to the cooler 80 so that the exhaust will coolsaid cooler, thence connects to cool ers 7 8, 7 9 for the same purpose.

. The sucker line 108 of the well d is connected, as shown in Fig. 11,by suitable driving r'connections 141 to a fluid-pressure operatedengine 142 having its intake pipe 143 connected to the gas pipe line '82and having'its exhaust pipe 144 connected to the gas pipe line 82. Withthis construction it is seen that high pressure gas is irst cooled toremove the condensates therefrom and is then used in an engine forperforming useful work and then exhausts into the cooler to eii'ect orlaid in the cooling of said high pressure gas, thus eliecting greateconomy of the energ and useful products in the gas. The re rigerating,pumpin and condensing operations are thus com ined in a single plant,and the exhaust gases from the engine 142 after e'fectin thecoolingoperation may be used for fuel.

To revent thewell e or g sanding, especial y when it is not producingoil, the pump 110 will operatel to continuously circulate oil from whichthe sand has been eliminated through the pump tubing to carry any sandthat may be in the tubin therefrom into the oil pipe line, the san thusdischarged from the tubing being eventually removed from the oil byaction of the separator 63.

The detailed operation 4of the separating and refining devicesabovedescribed is-not entered into herein as their constructions andoperations are the subject matter of ,ap-

lications which I may file inthe future.

he system is provided with valves wherever desirable or necessary.

The patentable subject matter disclosed.

and not claimed herein is in part the subject of my copendingapplication for patent for well equipment, filed January 29, 1916,Serial No. 75,113.

I claim:

1. The method of umpingwells, which method consists in discharging'fluidunder lower pressure into the liquid in the pump,

tubin 'at' a higher level to displace the liqui above said level, andthen discharging fluid un-der higher pressure at a lower.

level to displace the liquid above said lower level.

2.. The method of pumping wells, which method consists in dischargingHuid under pressure into the liquid in the pump tubing at apredetermined lower constant dierence of pressures of said liquid, andshutting ofil said liuid from the tubin at a predetermined higherconstant dierence of pressures of said liquid.

3. The method of umping wells, which method consists in dischargingfluid under pressure from an outside source into the liquid in the pumptubing at a predetermined lower constant diii'erence of pressures insaid liquid at the discharge level,

and' shutting off said fluid from the tubing at predetermined higherconstant dii'erence of pressures at said discharge level.

4. The method of pumping wells, which method consists in storing in theWell the gas produced by the well until there is flowing submergence,and then allowing said gas only at a predetermined diii'erence ofpressures of the as and oil to discharge into the pump tubing to liftthe oil.

, 5. The method of pumping wells, whichl said gas to discharge into thepump tubing to lift' the oil.

6. The method' of pumping wells, which methodconsists in distilling oiland saving the relatively dry gases resulting from the distillation,cooling said gases, compressing the gases thus cooled, cooling the gasesthus compressedto condense disti lates from said gases, and thendischarging the ases thus reservoir, shutting off coni-A compressed andfreed from disti lates into the well to lift the oil.

7. The method of pumping wells, which method consists in distilling oiland saving the relatively dry gases resulting from distillation, coolingsaid gases, compressing the gases thus cooled, cooling the gases thuscompressed to condense vapors vfrom said gases, discharging the gasesthus compressed and freed from vapors into the well to lift the oil,cooling the gases issuing from the 'well with the oil, compressing saidgases,

then cooling the fgases thus compressed to condense vapors rom saidgases, and discharging the gases thus cooled and'freed from vaporsintothe well again to pump said well. i

8. The method of Ipumping Wells, which iso' - said levels successively.

the well with the oil, compresslng Said gases,

then cooling'the gases thus compressed to condense vapors from saidgases, and discharging the gases thus cooled and 'freed from vapors intothe well again to pump said well.

10. The method ofpumping wells, which method consists in sealing thewell to produce flowing submergence and gas pressure therein, anddischarging fluid into the pump tubing at ya predetermined difference ofpressure of the fluid and liquid4 in the Well to flow the liquidtherein.

11. The method of pumping wells, wh-ich method consists in sealing thewell to produce flowing submergence and gas pressure therein, andcausing 'predetermined pressures of said gas to operate to .dischargegas into the pump tubing first at one level and then a-t another to flowthe liquid therein at 12. 'Ihe method of pumping wells, which methodconsists -in sealing the Well to produce flowing submergence and gaspressure therein, and causing predetermined pressures of said gas tooperate to discharge gas into the pump tubing first at a higher leveland then at a lower level to flow the liquid therein at said levelssuccessively.

13. The method of pumping wells, which method consistsin sealing the-well to pro- 1 duce flowing'submergence and gas pressure therein, anddischarging fluid into-the pump tubing first at a lower level and thenat a higher level to flow the liquid therein at said levels'successively.

14. In combination, a well, means to -hold the pressures of liquid andgas 'in the well,

means for pumping liquid from the Well by, gas, and means to altereither of said pressures relative .to the other of said pressures toobtain different velocities of discharge of fluid from: the well.

15. In combination, a well provided with pump tubing, means opening 'to-discharge an operating fluid under lower pressure into the pump tubingat a higher level to displace the liquid above said level, said meansclosing at higher pressure-of .the operating fluid, and means openinginto the pump tubmg at .a lower level to displace the liquid theoperating fluid increases. f

16. In combination, pump tubing having above said lower level when thepressure of) 'ervoir for an operating entries at diierentlevels, meansto produce fluid pressure outside .of the tubingV at said entries, and av alve operated to open by higher pressure of said fluid'to admit thefluid to the upper entry and operated to close by the hydrostaticpressure in thegtubing to exclude said fluid.

'17. In combination, pump tubing having entries at different levels,means to produce fluid pressure outside of the-tubing at said entries,and a valve operated to open by pressure of said fluid to admit thefluid to the upper entry and `operated to close by higher pressure ofsaid fluid to exclude said flui-d.

18. In combination,"pump tubing having entries at different levels,means to produce fluid pressure outside ofthe tubing at said entries,and a valve operated to. open by pressure of said fluid'to admit saidfluid to the upper entry and operated to close by the hydrostaticpressure in the tubing to eX- clude said fluid and operated to close byhigher pressure of saidflu-id to exclude said fluid.

19. In combination, pump tubing having entries at'diflerent levels,means to produce fluid pressure outside of the tubing at said entries, avalve for the upper entry operated by the fluid. pressure to open andoperated by higher pressure to close, and a valve for the lower entryheld closed by the hyv.

drosta-tic pressure in the tubing when the upper valve is open.

20. In combination, pump tubing having entries at different levels,means to produce fluid pressure outside .of the tubing at said entries,a lvalve for the upper entry operated by pressure of the fluid toyclose, and a valve for the lower entry operated by greater pressure ofthe fluid to open when the upper valve isV closed.

21. In combination, pump tubing having entries at different levels,means to produce fluid pressure outside of the tubing at said entries, av-alve for the upper entry operated by pressure of the fluid to close,and a valve for the lower entry operated by greater pressure of thefluid to open when the upper valve is closed, and operated by stil]greater pressure of the fluid to close.

22. In combination, casing, pump tubing in said casing, means .to sealthe space between the casing and tubing to form a resuid, and entryvalves at different levels of the pump tubing to con-trol fthe supply ofVoperating fluid from the reservoir tothe tubing.

23. In combination, casing, pump tubing 1n said casing, entry valves atdifferent levels of the pump tubing to control the supply of operatmgfluid .to the tubing, and a tube connecting said entry valves 'to oneanother and communicatingwith the casing.

2st.- A pumping system comprising Well casings, pump tuibings in saidcasings, means 'to seal the spaces I'between the casings and tubings toform reservoirs for an operating fluid, entryvalves at.different-.levels of the pump tubings to control the sup-ply ofoperating fluid from the reservoirs to the tubings, and means connectingsaid reservoirs to one another.

25. A pumping system comp-rising Well casings, pump tu ings in saidcasings, entry valves 4at ldifferent levels of the pump tubings tocontrol the supply of operating fluid to the tubings at said levels,yand Huid-conducting means connecting the entry Valve of one tub-ing tothe entry valve of the other tubing.

26. A pumping system comprising pump tubing, oil distilling meansconnected to the pump tubing, gas cooling means connected to saiddistilling means, a gas compressor connected to said cooling means,other gas cooling means connected to the compressor, and gas-conductingmeans connecting said other cooling means to the pump tubing.

27. A pumping system comprising Well casings, pump tubing in one of saidcasings, gas-cooling means connected to the other of said casings, a gascompressor connected to said cooling means, other gas-cooling meansconnected to the compressor, and gas-conducting meansconnecting saidother cooling means to said pump tubing.

2 8. A pumping system comprising a Well casing, pump tubing in saidcasing, gas-cooling means connected to the casing, a gas compressorconnected to said cooling means,

other gas-cooling meansconnected to said' compressor, and gas-conductingmeans con- .40

necting saidfother cooling means to the pump tubing to loW- the oiltherein.

29. In combination, pump tubing having an entry member for an operatingiuid, a pipe to supply the operating fluid to the entrymember, adischarge pipe connected Ito the pump tubing, a Huid-pressure regulatorfor regulating the discharge from the dis-A charge pipe, and a pipeconnecting the operating-fluid supply pipe to the regulator so that thepressure in said supply pipe will operate the regulator.

30. In combination, pump tubing having van entry member for anoperating-fluid, a

pipe to supply theoperating fluid to the entry member, a dischargefpipeconnected to the pump tubing, fluid-pressure regulators for thedischarge and supply pipes respectively, and Ia pipe connecting theoperatingluid supply pipe to the regulators so that the pressure in saidsupply pipe will operate said A regulators.

31. In combination, pump tubing, casing surrounding said tubing, acasing` head for said casing, an entry member for the .pump

` nected vby a gas pipe line to said Well, a

i. 1,sic,e15

y.tubing to admit an operating-fluid to said tubing from thel interiorofthe casing, a dis- =charge pipe connected to the pump tubing, a

v regulator.

32. lIn combination, pump tubing, casing surrounding saidtubinff. acasing head for said casing, an entry member for the pump tubing toadmit an operating-fluid to said tubing from the interior of the casing,a discharge pipe connected to the pump tubing, a pipe to supply theoperating-fluid to the casing head, fluid pressure regulators for thedischarge and supply pipes, and a pipe connecting the supply pipe to theregulators so that pressure in said supply pipe Will operate theregulators. 4

33. In combination, pump tubing having an inlet member provided with 'apressure controlled valve, a tube connected to the inlet member andprovided with a check valve, and a pump tosupply an operating Huid tosaid inlet member.

34. A pumping system comprising in combination with a Well, a compressorconsecond gas pipe line connected to the Well to furnish pumping-fluidto said Well, and means operating to confine gas in the Well p until itreaches a predetermined pressure and to discharge said gas into thesecond gas pipe line when said predetermined pressure is reached.

i 35. A pumping system comprising in combination with a Well, a refiningplanteennected by an oil pipe line to said lWell, a compressor connectedby a gas pipe line to the refining plant to compress the gaseousproducts of the refining plant, a second gas pipe line connected to theWell'to furnish pumping-Huid ,to said well, andmeans operating toconfine gas in the Well until it 1110 reaches a predetermined pressureand'to discharge said gas into the second gas pipe line When saidpredetermined pressure is reached.

36. A pumping system comprising in combination With a well, a refiningplant connected by an oil pipe line to said Well, a

compressor connected by a gas pipe line to the reining plant to compressthe gaseous products of the refining plant, a second gas pipe lineconnected to the well to furnish pumping-iuid to said Well and connectedto the compressor, and a regulator operated to open by iuidressure inthe second as pipe line on the we 1 side of said line to a mit the gas.to said well.

' 37. A pumping system comprising in combination With a Well, acompressor connected to the well to compress the gases produced charge aportion of said gases freed from condensates into the well andconnecting said condenser to the motor end of the first compressor tooperate said compressorv with another portion of said gases.

38. A pumping system comprising in `combination with a well, acompressor con` nected to the well to compress the gases produced bysaid well, condensing means connected vto the compressor, a secondcompressor connected to the condensing means to further compress saidgases, a condenser connected to the second compressor to re-4 move thecondensates from the gases, a third compressor connected to thecondenser toA further compress' a portion of the gases freed fromcondensates and connected to tl1e` well to pump the liquid from saidwell, and a pipe connecting said condenser to the motor end of thesecond compressor to operate said compressor with another portion of thegases freed from condensates.

39. In combination, a well having a pump tubing and a conductor tube, agas pipe line connected to said conductor tube, a dirt trap in said gaspipe line, and a fluid-pressure regulator in said line between thelconductor tube and dirt trap, saiddirt 'trap operating to prevent scalecoming from the gas pipe line from clogging the regulator.

40. 'In combination, pump tubing, a conductor tube having gas inlets atboth ends,

an entry member between thel ends of the conductor tube to admit gastherefrom to the pump tubing, and a valve in the entry member toregulate the flow of gas.

41. In combination, pump tubing, a conductor tube having gas inlets atboth ends,

an entry member between the ends of the conductor tube to admit gastherefrom'` to the pump tubing, and a valve in the entry member toprevent liquid passing from the pump tubing to the conductor tube.

42. In combination, pump tubing, means forming a gas reservoir, an entrymember communicatin with the pump tubing and reservoir, an meansoperating to effect and maintain a balance between the head of liquid inthe tubing andthe pressure of gas in the reservoir to hold the gas insaid reservoir when the difference in pressures of gas and liquidexceeds av predetermined amount and to open communication between theres- Gervoir and pump tubing when the difference between'the pressuresof the gas and liquid is less than said predetermined amount.

43. In combination, a well, an oil distharge pipe for said well, a gaspipe line con# means, and means for utilizing t e nected to the well,anda regulator to control the iiow of oil through said discharge pipe,

said regulator being operated by the. gas pressure in the gas pipe line.

44. A `conductor tube, pump tubing, an entry member connecting theconductor tube to the pump tubing, a valve in the entry y memberoperated to open against the head of liquid in the tubing by pressure ofgas in the conductor tube and operated to close' against said liquidheadv by higher pressure of said gas, and means to release gas from theconductor tube to lower the pressure and allow the irst valve to beopened by the head of the liquid in the pump tubing.

45. The method of pumping oil, which method consists incompressing'gases from a suitable source of supply, expanding thegasesvto create power, utilizing said power to pump oil from the well,and utilizing the expanded gases to cool the compressed gases from thesource of supply to condense vapors from said compressed ases beforesaid compressed gases are eXpan ed as aforesaid.

46. The combination with pump tubing, of means connected therewith toseparate oil, carbonaceous vapors and gases from one another while saidoil, vapors and gases are under pressure, means to discharge the oil,carbonaceous vapors and gases under pressure into the separatin means,and means for utilizing the gases tus separated to lift oil in the pumtubing.

47. The com ination with pump tubing,

of means connected therewithv to separate 48. The combination with pumptubing, I- f of means connected. therewith to separate sand, oil,carbonaceous vapors and gases from one another while under pressure,

means to discharge the sand, oil,vapors and gases under pressure intothe se arating ases thus separated to lift oil in the pump'tuing.

49. The combination with pump tubing, of means connected therewith toseparate sand, water, oil, carbonaceous vapors and gases from oneanotherwhile under pressure, means to discharge the sand, water, oil, vaporsand gases under pressure vinto the separating` means, and means forutilizing the gases thus 'separated to lift oil in the pump tubing.

. 50. The combination with pump tubing, of means connected to saidtubing to separateA oil, carbon'aceous vapors and gases from one anotherWhile heated and under pressure,

the gases thus separated to lift oil in the pump tubing.

52. The combination with pump tubing, of means connected to said tubinto separate sand, oil, carbonaceous vapors an gases from one anotherWhile heated and' under pressure, means to heat vsaid separating means,means to discharge the sand, oil, carbonaceous vapors and gases underpressure into the separating means, and means for utilizing theI gasesthus separated to lift oil in the pump tubing.

53. The combination with pump tubing, of means connected .to said tubingto sepa-y rate sand, Water, oil, carbon-aceous vapors and gases from'oneanother while heated and under pressure, means to heat said separatingmeans, means to discharge the sand, oil, carbonaceous vapors and gasesunder pressure into the separating means, and means forl utilizing thegases thus separated to lift oil in the pump tubing.

54. The method of pumping Wells, which method consists in causing gas tobe held in the Well under pressure, discharging said gas into the liquidin the pump tubing at a predetermined lower constant difference ofpressures of said liquid at the discharge level, and shutting ofl'saidfluid from the tubmg at a predetermined higher constant dlll'erence ofpressures of the fluid at the discharge level. n

55. The method of pumping a series of wells, which method consists inthe formalti'on'of a column of mixed oil and gas in balance with acolumn of oil in said Wells so that the mixed column is raised, thecooling of the gas, the compressing of the gas, the separation of thecompressed gas from the vapors carried thereby, and the return of atleast a portion of the compressed gas to one or more of the wells,wherein the pressure is lowerithan desired, to pump sa1d well.

56. The process of pumping which consists in applying an actuating fluidunder pressure to `the fluid to be pumped to effect the pumping andstopping the pumping action by said actuating fluid when its pressureexceeds the resistance to the pumping action to a predetermined degree.

l 57. The process 'of pumping which consists in applying an actuatingfluidv under pressure to the fluid to be pumped to effect the pumping,inaugurating the pumping action by said actuating fluid when itspressure equals that required to overcome the resistance to the pumpingaction, and stopping the pumping action by said actuating fluid when itspressure exceeds the resistance to the pumping action to a predetermineddegree. v

58. In combination, well casing, a chamf ber insaid casing, pump tubingin sections,

one of said sections being connected to the lower end of said chamberand another of said sections extending through the upper end and intovthe interior of said chamber, means in said chamber connected to theupper section to admit liquid thereto and exclude gas therefrom, a gasdischarge pipe communicating with said chamber to draw the gasestherefrom, and a valve' on said discharge pipe.

59. The method of pumping a Well, which method consists in discharginggas into the pump tubing to lift the liquid in said tubing from a lowerlevel to a higher level and drawing off only a portion of said gas atthe higher level, and then to a still higher level.

60. The method of pumping a well, which method consists in liftingliquid in the well from a lower level to a higher level, discharging gasinto the pump tubing at said higher level to lift said liquid to a stillhigher level, and trapping and drawing ofl' some of said gas at saidstill higher level.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 22nd day of October 1915.

WARREN R. GREENLEE. Y

GEORGE H. HILEs, 'A. F. SGHMIDTBAUER.

lifting said liquid

